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SAN FRANCISCO — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, has endorsed Mark Leno to serve as the next mayor of San Francisco. The election of Leno, a Noe Valley small business owner and former state legislator, would be historic, as he would become the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor.

“There is no greater champion for San Francisco’s working families, small businesses and LGBTQ community than Mark Leno,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “San Franciscans are looking for a mayor who can unite the city behind a bold vision for the future — one in which everyone has a shot at success. They’re looking for a fighter who won’t back down to City Hall lobbyists, special interests or even the president of the United States. They’re looking for Mark Leno.”

Mark Leno’s demonstrated commitment to full equality and justice for LGBTQ Californians is unmatched by any other candidate in the race. After losing his partner to the AIDS epidemic, Leno dedicated his life to serving San Francisco, as a community leader, as one of the first openly gay men to serve in the California Assembly and then as the first openly gay California Senator. In the Legislature, he championed landmark legislation that advanced marriage equality, provided groundbreaking protections for transgender Californians and raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

“While our so-called President threatens to turn back the dial on our hardest-fought victories, it means the world to have the endorsement of one of the fiercest organizations championing the LGBTQ community. I’ve dedicated my life to lifting up the voices of all people, and I hope to have the privilege to continue that work as Mayor. Our City is facing challenges of affordability, homelessness, and a diminishing quality of life on our streets – if we’re to truly shake things up, we need a Mayor who will think big, reject cynicism, and demand results.”

Leno has also been endorsed by the Victory Fund and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, along with dozens of progressive organizations, community leaders and elected officials. If elected, he has committed to leading a regional effort to tackle the Bay Area’s affordable housing crisis; defending the city’s immigrant, LGBTQ and communities of color against the Trump Administration’s attacks; and redoubling San Francisco’s efforts to address homelessness — including the rising rate of LGBTQ youth homelessness.

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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org